penicillin — 1929, coined in English by Alexander Fleming (1881 1955), who first recognized its antibiotic properties, from Mod.L. Penicillium notatum (1867), the name of the mould from which it was first obtained, from L. penicillus paintbrush (see PENCIL… … Etymology dictionary

penicillin — [pen΄i sil′in] n. [&LT; PENICILLIUM + IN1] any of a group of isomeric, antibiotic compounds with the general formula C9H11N2O4SR, obtained from the filtrates of certain molds (esp., Penicillium notatum and P. chrysogenum) or produced… … English World dictionary

Penicillin — For the Japanese band, see Penicillin (band). Penicillin core structure. The R is the variable group. Penicillin (sometimes abbreviated PCN or pen) is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi.[1] They include … Wikipedia

Penicillin — Historically, the most famous of all antibiotics, named for the fungal mould Penicillium notatum from which it is derived. Penicillin acts by destroying the cell wall in those bacteria that are sensitive have been developed (not resistant) to its … Medical dictionary